Anthrax Outbreak Kills Child In Siberia, Infects 20 Other People

Russian officials say an outbreak of anthrax has killed a 12-year-old boy in northwestern Siberia, and 20 more people have been diagnosed with the bacterial disease.

Officials in the Yamalo-Nenets autonomous district said on August 2 that a total of 90 residents are undergoing hospital checks.

Families have been evacuated from the infection hotspot.

Anthrax is caused by Bacillus anthracis, which can be treated with antibiotics.

The outbreak, which officials say was fueled by a heatwave, has killed more than 2,300 reindeer in recent days in the remote region 2,000 kilometers northeast of Moscow, where indigenous nomadic people traditionally herd reindeer.

The office of Governor Dmitry Kobylkin said all reindeer in the area have been vaccinated and the deaths have stopped.